Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet: What You Need to Know

The Condition

Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints which is long term in nature. During the early stages, the condition is characterized by discomfort or pain experience on the affected joints. Later stages become more serious deforming the affected joints which may cause physical disability. The affected joints are usually located in the knees, feet, wrists as well as other body tissues.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects individuals from 25 to 40 years old. Progression may be slow at first but as the condition develops, symptoms worsen. There are several causes such as physical and emotional stress, infection, trauma or injury, hereditary and hormonal imbalance. Other symptoms of the condition are low blood pressure, constipation, anemia and deformities.

What You Need

Rheumatoid arthritis patients need a lot of vitamin A and D, iron, calcium and phosphorus plus other carbohydrates. Their diet should consist of 2000 calories on average. Fruits and vegetables can adequately suffice daily vitamin needs such as oranges, carrots, papayas and bananas. Exposing the skin to mild sunlight for 30 minutes everyday provides enough vitamin D. Apples, pineapples, lemons and melons are also good fruits which alleviate the condition.

Since inflammation is the main symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, it is vital to eat foods that reduce the response. Apples, plums, beets, strawberries, broccoli, spinach and cranberries are all reliable food sources which reduce the inflammatory response and decrease pain sensations.

What You Don’t Need

There are certain foods which can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis since they tend to increase precipitates that irritate the joints. Some examples of these are salty foods, fatty foods, refined and processed foods, alcoholic beverages, dairy products, caffeinated drinks, tea, berries and grilled and fried foods.

There are also ongoing debates that tomatoes, mushrooms and potatoes also adversely affect the joints due to the group they belong in. Salty foods can cause high blood pressure and water retention which aggravate arthritic symptoms. Alcohol should be avoided at all times or as much as possible since it interacts with arthritic drugs, decreasing overall effectiveness.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Instead of consuming unhealthy saturated fats and oils, it is recommended to eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These greatly help eliminate bad cholesterol and alleviate the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Examples are soybeans, walnut oil, salmon oil, canola oil, soybean oil, avocado oil, peanuts and walnuts.

Aggravating Foods

Arthritis flares can come from various sources and conditions. Allergies can trigger arthritis flares thus should be avoided by individuals with known food hypersensitivities. Examples of possible allergens are sugary foods, chocolate, seafood, dairy products, caffeine, salty food and peanuts. These foods can cause rashes and respiratory distress which can lead to arthritic flares.

Testing What You Eat

To check whether your rheumatoid arthritis diet can be modified, categorize all the foods you have avoided. Add one new food at a time and immediately check for symptoms. If consuming a new food or recipe caused arthritic flares or aggravated the symptoms of the condition, eliminate it entirely from your diet.